CMA Gets Long Sought Audit of Medi-Cal TAR Program
The Joint Legislative Audit Committee unanimously approved CMA's request for an audit of the Medi-Cal Treatment Authorization Request (TAR) process. The TAR program costs the state $1.5 billion to administer and, since 92 percent of TARs are granted, the process does little more than delay treatment and increase administrative costs in most cases. The legislative action instructs State Auditor Elaine Howle to audit the program and make specific recommendations on how to streamline the TAR process.
CMA has long been advocating that TAR funds should be spent on providing actual health care, like maintaining the state's Healthy Families program, rather than wasteful administration, particularly given the state's current dire budget situation.
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